Staff profile

staff list  BackDr Chris Bull

  • Job title: Head of Department
  • Dept: Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure
  • Tel: 01227 782334
  • Campus: Canterbury
Chris Bull

Biography

Dr Chris Bull, PhD (London), MPhil (London), MA (Edinburgh), graduated with an MA (Hons) degree in Geography from the University of Edinburgh in 1971 and subsequently worked as a research assistant at Wye College, University of London, on a project concerned with farm based recreation and tourism in South East England for which he was later awarded an MPhil. In the early 1980s he studied for his PhD at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London, while lecturing at Bedford College of Higher Education, later part of De Montfort University. In 1994 he came to Canterbury Christ Church as Principal Lecturer in Tourism and Leisure Studies and in 2002 became Head of the new Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure.

Research & Scholarly Interests

Dr Bull's research interests lie in the fields of rural tourism and sports tourism, although he has also been responsible for a number of consultancy projects concerned with tourism activity across the Transmanche Region.

Dr Bull's research interests lie in the fields of rural tourism and sports tourism, although he has also been responsible for a number of consultancy projects concerned with tourism activity across the Transmanche Region.

Dr Bull's research in rural tourism stems from his early work on farm based recreation and tourism which was then followed by work on the development and management of wildlife conservation trusts. More recently he has undertaken research and consultancy on the development of Community Forests, especially their tourism and recreational potential and he has supervised PhD research on sustainable rural tourism in Kent.

Dr Bull's principal research activity in the last few years has concerned sports tourism, some involving collaboration with Professor Mike Weed. Earlier work with Professor Weed led to their co-authored publication on the subject (Elsevier, 2004) and more recent work has involved the experiences and behaviours of cycle tourists and the economic and social impact of the Tour de France.

Grants, Awards & Scholarships

  • £8,000 from Nova International and Portsmouth City Council for an Economic Flow Analysis for the 2008 Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth & Southsea, (with M Weed, C Leigh, J Hills, and S Dowse) .

  • £4,000 from Canterbury City Council for Study of Perceived Impacts of Tour de France on Canterbury Residents' and Businesses (2007)] (with M Weed and J Lovell).

  • £85,000 over 2 years from Kent County Council/Interreg III for the Transmanche Tourism Research Programme – Phase 2 (2005-2007).

  • £10,000 from Kent Highways for a study of the Economic Impact of Cycle Tourism in Relation to The Viking Cycle Trail in Thanet (2003).

  • £82,000 over 2 years from Kent County Council to fund the extension to Transmanche Tourism Research Programme (2001 -2002).

  • £10,000 from Medway Council for a Study of the Optimum Branding of Medway and its Specific Attractions as a Total Visitor Destination (1999) (with K Thomas and C Butler).

  • £66,000 over 2 years from Kent County Council/Interreg II for the Transmanche Tourism Research Programme (1999-2001)

Appointments and Responsibilities

  • Head of the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure
  • Member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Sport & Tourism
  • Member of Tourism South East's 'Legislation/Regulatory Sounding Board'
  • Member of Kent Tourism Council/Visit Kent

Teaching Responsibilities

  • Year 1: Introduction to Leisure Studies
  • Year 2: Tourism and Leisure Environments
  • Year 3: The Countryside: Conservation and Recreation Management

Selected Recent Publications

Books
  • Weed, M E and Bull C J (2009) Sports Tourism: Participants, Policy and Providers (2nd Edition). Oxford: Elsevier (Butterworth Heinemann).
  • Bull, C, Hoose, J and Weed, M (2003) An Introduction to Leisure Studies, Harlow: Pearson Education (Longman), 2003. (Chinese Edition) Yunan: Yunan University Press, 2006
Refereed Journal Articles
  • Bull, C and Hayler, S (2009) 'The Changing Role of Live Entertainment at English Seaside Resorts at the Beginning of the 21st Century', Tourism Geographies Vol 11, No 3, p 281-307.
  • Bull, C.J. and Lovell, J. (2007) 'The Impact of Hosting Major Sporting Events on Local Residents: an Analysis of the Views and Perceptions of Canterbury Residents in Relation to the Tour de France 2007'. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 12(3-4), 229-248.
  • Bull, C.J. (2006) 'Racing Cyclists as Sports Tourists: The Experiences and Behaviours of a Case Study Group of Cyclists in East Kent, England'. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 11(3-4), 259-274.
Book Chapters
  • Bull, C.J. (2005) 'Sports Tourism Destination Resource Analysis' in Higham, J (ed) Sport Tourism Destinations: Issues, Opportunities and Analysis, Oxford: Elsevier (Butterworth Heinemann).